Gladwell’s latest looks for Davids among the Goliaths

When I was growing up, I remember my father telling my brother and me repeatedly, “Life isn’t fair.” That simple life lesson has resonated with me as I have gotten a bit older, and although the phrase is not an explanation of why bad things happen to people, I’ve realized that perhaps he meant it to encourage us — encourage us to accept that life won’t always give us whatever we wanted, but we could be strong enough to overcome the challenges that face us along the way and possibly become better people because of them. Malcolm Gladwell’s newest book, “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” explores those challenges through the eyes of the “underdog.” He helps readers consider new ways of thinking about how we overcome obstacles and how the “giants” in our lives may not be as undefeatable as they seem. Just as he did in his previous bestselling books, “Outliers,” “Blink,” and “The Tipping Point,” Gladwell draws his readers in by connecting complicated data, theories, and evidence into a thought-provoking, interesting narrative: “David and Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. By ‘giants,’ I mean powerful opponents of all kinds — from armies and mighty warriors to disability, misfortune, and oppression. Each chapter tells the story of a different person — famous or unknown, ordinary or brilliant — who has faced an outsize challenge and been forced to respond.” As you can imagine, Gladwell begins his newest book with the triumphant story of David and Goliath, but instead of the traditional retelling, he focuses on some lesser known details, ones that helped David, an inexperienced soldier, defeat one of the most daunting Philistine warriors of his time. The book continues in this fashion, sharing a collection of engaging stories that show “underdogs” overcoming challenges. One of my favorite chapters is a story about a photograph taken during the Civil Rights Movement that made the front page of newspapers across the country and helped to spur the waning interest of Northern supporters. A closer examination of the photograph and the backstory provide readers with another example of how Martin Luther King Jr., the “overwhelming underdog,” battled the “giants” of racism and segregation in the South. Whether or not you agree with Malcolm Gladwell’s interpretation of information, one thing is for certain: He has a gift for drawing readers in by connecting complicated information with fascinating personal stories. Consider the words of Lionel Beehner, USA Today journalist and Ph.D. candidate: “I appreciate Gladwell for what he is — part entertainer, part eccentric, part scribbler of others’ illegible ideas.” “David and Goliath” really grabs the attention of readers and illustrates that perhaps “giants” may not be nearly as tough as they seem, and the “underdogs” may have more of a chance than we give them credit for. Gladwell writes “we have a definition in our heads of what an advantage is — and the definition isn’t right. And what happens as a result? It means that we make mistakes. It means that we misread battles between underdogs and giants. It means that we underestimate how much freedom there can be in what looks like a disadvantage.” In other words, understanding the challenge and your own capabilities is half the battle.

Michelle Mills is branch Manager at Graham Public Library. Contact her at mmills@alamancelibraries.org or (336) 570-6730.